Tuning microparticle porosity during single needle electrospraying synthesis via a non-solvent-based physicochemical approach

Yuan Gao, Yuntong Bai, Ding Zhao, Ming Wei Chang, Zeeshan Ahmad, Jing Song Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Porous materials, especially microparticles (MP), are utilized in almost every field of engineering and science, ranging from healthcare materials (drug delivery to tissue engineering) to environmental engineering (biosensing to catalysis). Here, we utilize the single needle electrospraying technique (as opposed to complex systems currently in development) to prepare a variety of poly("-caprolactone) (PCL) MPs with diverse surface morphologies (variation in pore size from 220 nm to 1.35 μm) and architectural features (e.g., ellipsoidal, surface lamellar, Janus lotus seedpods and spherical). This is achieved by using an unconventional approach (exploiting physicochemical properties of a series of non-solvents as the collection media) via a single step. Sub-micron pores presented on MPs were visualized by electron microscopy (demonstrating a mean MP size range of 7-20 μm). The present approach enables modulation in morphology and size requirements for specific applications (e.g., pulmonary delivery, biological scaffolds, multi-stage drug delivery and biomaterial topography enhancement). Differences in static water contact angles were observed between smooth and porous MP-coated surfaces. This reflects the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties of these materials.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2701-2710
Number of pages10
JournalPolymers
Volume7
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Microparticles
  • Poly("-caprolactone)
  • Porous
  • Shape
  • Tuned

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